Renee's Exchange to California State University, Monterey Bay | USA
My choice
to study abroad
to California in
the United States,
was one which
was done with
little initial thought and consideration
as to what
it exactly meant,
I never expected
to get accepted.
When you scribble your
name on a
form it really
doesn’t prepare you for
the monumental life
changing decision you’re signing yourself
up to.
I
originally decided to
sign up for
exchange, as I
had met exchange
students in high
school who I
became good friends
with and wanted
the same experience.
Secondly, I knew
I wanted to
travel the world
one day and
what better way
to do it
than while finishing
your degree at the same
time? The idea
of leaving your
home and moving
across the world is
something that doesn’t
actually hit you
until you strap
yourself into that
plane and you
feel the butterflies
rise in your
stomach.
All I had
to keep reminding
myself was, “Worst
case scenario and
you hate it,
just call and
go home”. Fortunately,
it never came
to this, but
it’s a comforting
thought to tell
yourself in moments
of doubt. While
lining up to
receive my keys,
surrounded by the
mass of other
students I was
shaking with fear
and excitement; however
mostly excitement. My smile was
stretching from ear to
ear. I knew
almost immediately I had
made the right
decision. I was
lucky enough to
have my family come
with me to California for
a road trip before
they dropped me
off right out
front of CSUMB.
We
visited all the
must-see destinations, Vegas,
Palm Springs, Hollywood,
Beverley Hills, Venice
Beach, Yosemite, Lake
Tahoe. (if you
don’t know these
look them up!)
This was very
convenient for me as it
meant that I
didn’t have to
drag a full
length mirror, broom,
towels, cutlery and
all the thing
you forget you
need, on a bus to
your dorm. On
my first night
myself and my
five other housemates,
four Japanese and
a German girl all sat
up until early
hours of the
morning chatting and
getting to know
one another. We
were all very
lucky to have
each other and seeing
them all go
was full of
lots of tears.
The next week
consisted of orientation
games and activities
which is where I
met the people who
would become my
closest friends.
America is exactly
what you
see in tv.
There was a
mascot a cheerleading team, the
basketball team and an overly
enthusiastic principal which
all sang and
danced to a
variety of school
spirit songs. The
other international students and
I quickly picked
up the moves, and
while in hysterics
joined in the
school spirit. One
thing that takes
a little getting
used to is the drinking
age. A lot
of people get
themselves in to
trouble so just
be aware and
don’t be stupid.
There is parties on
campus, but they
aren’t the crazy
ones you see
in the movies.
Join teams, clubs
and talk to
the people in
your classes. What a
lot of other
students struggled with
was putting themselves
out there to
make friends.
You
have to just
take a big
breathe gather your
courage and go
and sit with
the friendliest looking group in the
cafeteria, they won’t
bite and they
will love your
accent; promise. Putting
on the Australia
slang on thick
really helps when
you want to
now where all
the things to
do are. Make
friends with cars!
Its horrible taking
the bus everywhere
and the latest
one is earlier
than you think,
so don’t get
stranded. My friends
drove me to
all the local attractions, Big
Sur, the aquarium,
Cannery Row, Pacific
Grove and even
to visi ttheir home
towns in Sacramento and Paso
Robles. I also
road tripped down
to Mexico for
thanksgiving break with
a group of
friends and it was the
craziest but best
week of my
entire life.
If
you go to
California you HAVE to
go to Mexico, it’s
not as scary
as everyone says.
I also flew
to Canada to
see friends which
was incredible. I
managed to time
it during a
blizzard, but the snow
was so beautiful.
However, I recommend
bringing something other than ripped jeans
and a hoodie for
the -20C weather.
I was freezing.
Of course, you still
have to study...but
don’t worry it’s
a lot easier
than at Murdoch.
Talk to any
international student and they
will tell you it’s
a lot of
annoying papers every
week but they
are easy. Expect
to have four
or five assignments due weekly,
or a presentation
or two. Another rthing that
takes getting used to is assignments
are set
by page numbers
not word count.
So instead of a 2000 word
essay it’s a
2 page essay
with double spacing.
And usually you don’t
have to reference! It
may of just
been the courses
I took but
my experience was
reasonably simple.
However,
you do have
to do volunteering
which is fun
except when you
have to get up at
5am to take
a bus an
hour away. So, read
your course outlines
carefully before you choose
your units! If you
choose to study
at CSUMB you
will meet incredible
people, and have
the opportunity to
see so many
iconic places. I
don’t regret my
decision in the slightest
and I recommend
exchange to anyone
who has ever
considered it.
I
now have friends
who I speak to
regularly all over
the world and
have learnt ‘cheers’
in at least
3 different languages.
Why would you
stay at home?
- Renee studied abroad at California State University in Monterey Bay, USA
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